Jet lighter



JET LIGHTER Filed Nav. 21,l 1944 T TOR/VE YS 33 BY if Patented Dec. 30, 1947 JET LIGHTER Francs Leslie Phillips, Bayside, Long Island, N. Y., assignor to Beattie Products, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application November 21, 1944, Serial No. 564,439

5 Claims. l

This invention relates to pocket lighters, and is more particularly concerned with improvements in such lighters employing a jet llame.

Heretofore the type of pocket lighter which furnishes a jet flame for the lighting of a pipe as Well as an ordinary wick light for cigarettes has operated effectively in most respects. It has, however, been subject to annoying limitations which have tended to affect its salability and its reputation when once sold and put into use.

In particular, one prior type of jet lighter overlooked the fact that the vapor pressure built up to provide the jet, caused a substantial back pressure through the jet wick. This pressure would build up in the fuel compartment and tend to force liquid fuel out through the ordinary wick. Among the methods proposed to overcome this, one called for making the lighter housing of tele scoped shells, with the outer longer than the inner. thereby leaving space for fuel expansion. This was cumbersome, uneconomical, and did not preclude leakage out between the shells, should the lighter be upside down in ones pocket or should pressure build up within it. Another proposal called for partially plugging the inner end of the tube carrying the jet Wick to introduce resistance to back pressure down the jet tube. This worked well for lighters in substantially continuous use, but it did restrict the capillary action of the wick somewhat, with the result that a new lighter taken from the shelf in a store would require some time after the first filling for its jet wick to carry liquid up to the jet compartment with sufficient now for a jet flame. The effect of this delay on prospective customers can be readily appreciated.

Another feature of prior lighters which calls for improvement is the maintenance of a proper jet aperture. These apertures are minute and, for proper operation, should remain so. They do, however, clog up occasionally, and if the user of the lighter attempts to open one of them up, he might Well overdo it and enlarge the aperture to such an extent that the jet flame will not operate. v

I have discovered a way for preventing the back pressure from working down through the wick into the fuel compartment, and to accomplish that end Without introducing any undesirable effects. This I do by a proper snug fitting of the jet wick within its tube, and the making of that tube of the proper length so that a resistance can be built up that is just equal to or slightly in excess of the pressure generated in the jet chamber. If the tube were straight it would be too E long for the shape lighter preferred by the public,

so I have it bent around to lie within the main fuel chamber.

rlhis improvement not only eliminates the necessity of having an expansible main fuel compartment, but also eliminates the necessity of partially plugging the inner end of the jet tube. Lighters made according to my invention, when first lled with lighter fluid, will operate wick and jet flames almost instantaneously. In addition, a positive closure can be provided for the bottom of the lighter so as to eliminate the possibility of leakage inherent in the telescoping shell arrangement. Furthermore, my bottom closure can be so constructed and gasketed that instead of removing it once it is properly seated, one merely needs to remove the securing screw to fill through the screw hole without disturbing the bottom closure itself.

To assure the maintenance of a proper jet ap erture, I form that aperture in the end of 'a minute thimble. Such thimble and the end of the jet tube are constructed so as to be readily assembled and disassembled by hand. By furnishing a reasonable supply of replacement thimbles with each lighter sold, the user thereof may simply and properly apply a new jet aperture should the one he is using become clogged.

It is accordingly the principal object of my invention to balance the back pressure in jet tubes of jet lighters by resistance -in the tube which does it interfere with the capillary action of the wick.

It is another object of my invention to furnish a leakproof lighter having supplemental filling means therein.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means whereby the proper jet aperture can be readily restored should the existing aperture become clogged or enlarged.

Further and more detailed objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds, and through reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the type of lighter with which my invention is concerned.

Figure 5 is a detailed elevation showing my jet tube removed from the lighter.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the removable thimble carrying the jet aperture and the mounting therefor.

Figure I'I is a perspective view of the web for receiving the securing screw for the bottom closure.

The lighter of my invention comprises a body portion generally indicated at 5. This portion has a continuous side wall 6 of desired shape and a closed top 1. This top is provided with suitable apertures and fittings 8, 9 and I0 for the extension therethrough of the jet tube II, the wick I2, and the striking flints I3. In addition, it has affixed to it a guard member generally shown at I4 carrying the cover I 5, pivoted against the action of the spring toggle I6. This cover also carries a snuier I1 for the wick of the main burner. In addition, the guard I4 is furnished with a mounting I8 for the pivotal reception of the striking wheel I 9, all of which parts are common to lighters of this type and form no particular Dart of this invention.

In the embodiment here illustrated, the extent and direction of the jet tube are in accordance with the considerations already discussed. Inside of the main fuel compartment or body of the lighter, this tube II extends down close to the bottom thereof and is then turned laterally in a smooth right angle bend or curve 29. From the bend 20, it extends well across the compartment to another right angle curve or bend 2I, and thence upward to terminate in the curved portion 22. Though two bends 20 and 2I, and a curve 22 are shown, it is to be understood that the number and direction of the bends may vary, depending on the space available for the tube II. This wick is seated snugly Within the tube I I and extends out freely at 24 from the unrestricted inner end 25 of the tube I I, so that it may readi`.y pick up fiuid from the main fluid compartment. The snug t, to be described more particularly hereinafter, is a critical feature of this invention.

The tube II extends exteriorly of the wall 1 into a smooth bend 26, and from thence substantially horizontally, to terminate in a slightly ta;- pered outer end 21. This end 21, as best shown in Figure 6, is fitted with a thimble 28, whose side wall 29 is tapered in accordance with the taper of the end 21, and whose end wall is perforated at 30 to form the minute jet orice. The tapers 21 and 29 are so related that the thimble 28 may be instaled and removed by hand without any great effort, but will hold together unless intentionally separated. This enables the user of the lighter, on the clogging of the orice 30, to

remove the thimble 28, and replace it with a new one, several of which I contemplate providing with each lighter.

The provision of this easily removable thimble, as already pointed out, eliminates a cause of annoyance in prior art constructions. In orde for the jet flame to operate effectively, the orifice 30 must be very minute and not vary too much from the exact dimension selected for it. The orifice is so minute, however, that should it become obstructed, the user may have difficulty in locating the place where it is supposed to be. If he does locate it, he is not likely to have available any instrument small enough to clean out the orice without enlarging it. Any enlargement of the orice will at least reduce the effectiveness cf the jet if it does not entirely destroy its operation, so the provision for replaceable thim- CROSB uurtarief.

ULT IUII bles carrying proper orifices is a considerable advantage. Without them the lighter might have to be returned to the factory for repairs.

Returning to the tube II and its wick 23, it is to be noted that said wick, though extending outward of the main fuel compartment, does not extend to the outer end of the tube II, but terminates at the position shown at 3|, sufficiently inward of the outer end of the tube II to provde for a gas chamber 32 between the end 3I of the wick and the end of the thimble 28. Assuming for the moment that the main fuel compartment is lled, and the wicks 2d and I2 are properly supplied with fuel, the outer end 33 of the wick I2 may be lighted by spinning the Wheel I9 in conventional fashion. Should it then be desired to light a pipe or anything else for which a projected iet flame would be desirable,thelighter is tilted so that the flame from the wick 33 impinges on the thimble 28 and the end 21 of the tube I I comprehending the gas chamber 32. The heat from the name will then vaporize the fiuid from the end of the Wick 3| and build up sufficient pressure in such vapor to cause it to force a ne stream out through the opening 30. This vapor stream will, of course, be ignited by the ame from the wick 33, will extend a substantial distance from the orifice 30, and will continue to burn for a suflcient length of time to enable a leisurely lighting of a pipe. It is, of course, necessary for proper operation, that a fairly substantial pressure be built up in the gas chamber 32. On the other hand, however, the pressure is not of such magnitude as to overcome the t of the taper portions 21 and 29, so is released quite slowly through the minute orifice 30. The pressure will thus attempt to escape in any other direction available. The only other possible path is back through the wick 23, or between it and the interior of the tube II, and that is Where it attempts to go. If it be permitted, however, to back up into the main fuel compartment, that compartment will shortly be under an internal pressure greater than the external pressure of the atmosphere, and leakage of the liquid fuel will result, particularly through the wick 33. If on the other hand, the tube II be constricted in order to resist the back pressure from the wick 23, such constriction will act to materially reduce the capillary action of the Wick 23, resulting in the undesirable effects already discussed.

I have found that by selecting a wick of proper texture which will have the proper snug fit within the jet tube, a definite length of tube is required to provide the proper resistance to back pressure. Taking, as an example, a tube whose internal diameter is 3%" and drawing thereinto a wick of a hard nish braid, also having a diameter of 3%, I find that the pressure exerted by the jet is equalized in a tube length of 315e. It is not too difficult to draw such a diameter wick into such a diameter tube, and it results in What I term a snug t. By using a slightly larger wick, I find that the tube length can be decreased somewhat, though counterbalancng this is the fact that such a wick is dinicult to draw into the tube. Other dimensions capable of giving good performance can, of course, be determined by following the teaching of the invention, so it is to be understood that the example given hereinabove is merely illustrative and is not to be considered in a limiting sense.

The bends 20, 2I and 22 are placed in the tube merely to accommodatedts length in the size casluj an.:

' tive fuel-tight closure for the bottom of that compartment rather than one of the prior art type which allowed for expansion as such pressure b-uilt up. I accordingly furnish a closure plate 33 having anedge flange 34 therearound to snugly fit the exterior surface 6 of the chamber 5. A

gasket 35 of va packing material, impervious to` the common forms of liquid fuel employed, is fitted within the confines of the closure 33 and its edge flange 34. In addition, the-closure 33 is provided substantially centrally thereof with a depression 38 for the reception of a securing or filling screw`v -3'|. The screw 31, as best shown in Figure 2, has

as one of its principal functions the securing of the closure 33 in positio'n to assure a leakproof joint between sa and the body s by the intermediation of the gasket 35. If this leakproof seal the closure Y33. willquite likely stay in place, even though the'screw v31 be removed. I thus contemplate that the refilling of the lighter can be accommodated for merely by the removal of the screw 31. By taking that screw all `the way out, then a clear pass-age will be present from the interior of the container through the closure 33, the gasket 35, and the' screw threaded opening 38 in the web 39 which extends across the bottom of the chamber 6 to receive the screw 31. -An ample aperture is thus provided'for the filling of the main fuel compartment, and if the lighter be held A upside down while this is being done, it is not even necessary t employ the type of can vwhich squirts the fuel in, since the depression formed to takethe screw head 31 will direct the liquid in the proper path. This latest feature of the yinvention simplifies the handling of these lighters to a marked degree, and givesfthe user a choice of either removing the entire bottom of the lighter,` or merely removing the combined securing andv filling screw, if refilling is all that is desired.

It is believed that the foregoing adequately describes the purpose andY operation of the various elementsof my invention so that no further exposition of it is necessary.' Though I have shown what I presently contemplate as the best manner of carrying my invention intoeffect, it is, of course, to be un-derstood that such showing 'is -merely illustrative and that the true scope of my invention is -to be determined by the limits set by the following claims.

I claim:

but being unrestricted at its inner end, said tube being of substantial extent, a wick within said tube, said wick extending throughout substantially the full length oi said tube, and said wick and the tube being in snug iitting intcrengagement. the length and fit of said tube and wick being such as to provide substantially unrestricted capillary action of said wick. but restricting the passage of vapor pressure through said tube so that the said pressure is neutralized in the extent of the tuba-whereby, on filling up a drylighter, fluid is quickly carried-'up through said jet tube by capillary action, but on thereafterusing the jet name of the lighter the building up of pressure in the fluid chamber is practically eliminated.

3. In lighters providing both wick and jet burners, a main fuel compartment, a jet tube extending within said compartment and being unre- -is maintained for any period of time, however,

stricted on its inner end.' a wick received within said jet tube and` extending from the inner end thereof to `terminate short of the exterior end of the same to provide a vaporizing chamber, the length and fit of said tube and wick being such as to provide substantially unrestricted capillary action, but still so restricting the passage of vapor pressure, built up in said vaporizing chamber, through said tube in the direction of said main fuel compartment, that the existence of such pressure is substantially eliminated -at the inner end \of said tube.

4. In lighters providing both wick and jet burners, a main fuel compartment, a jet tube extending for a substantial' distance within said compartment and being unrestricted on its inner end, the outer end of said tube being provided with a jet orifice, a wick received in a snug fit within said tube and extending out beyond the inner end of said tube, but terminating short of said jet orifice, to provide a vaporizing chamber at said outer end of said tube, the length and t of said tube and said wick within the same being such as to provide substantially unrestricted capillary action 'of the wick, but so restricting the passage of pressure through the wick from said vaporizing chamber that such pressure will be substantially eliminated at the inner end of said tube.

5. In lighters of the character described, a tube for providing a projected fiame, a wick received 1. In lighters of the character described, a jet tube of substantial predetermined length, a wick received within said tube andhterminating short of the outer end of said tube to provide a pressure chamber, said jet tube being unrestricted at itsl inner end, the length and fit of said tube y'and wick being such as to provide substantially unrestricted. capillary action of said wick, but so restricting the passage of vapor pressure through said tube that the existence of any such pressure to escape out of the inner end of said tube is substantially eliminated whereby on the filling of a dry lighter, fluid will quickly pass up through 70 within said tube and terminating short of the outer end of the same, a fme'mber providing an orifice engaged with the outer end of said tube, said member having a tapered engaging portion, and said end of said tube being formed with a complementary tapered engaging portion, the engagement of said member with said tube through said tapered portions being sufficient to exceed thevremoving force exerted by vapor pressure built up in said pressure chamber, but being small enough as to enable the removal of said member by hand, whereby on the clogging of said orifice in said member the latter member may be readily removed and a" replacement installed by hand action.

FRANCIS LESLIE PHILLIPS.

Y REFERENCES CITED The ,following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date v2,242,906 Evans ..-1 May 20, 1941 1,894,300 Barker Jan. 1'7, 1933 2,019,436 Gibson Oct. 29, 1935 2,318,327 Phillips May 4, 1943 Aronson Nov. 29, 1932 7 1, t Certificate o! Correction Patent No.. 2,433,707.

Deeeme 30,1947k FRANCIS LESLIE PHILLIPS Itis hereby certified that error appears i'n the printed s eeilieation of the above numbered patent requiring correction as followsz Column 2, ine 32, for the indistinet word after "does read not; andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the game mayeonform to the record of,1 the oase in the Patent OHce.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of April, A. D. 1948.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

" '.dlustapfommzssoner of Patents. 

